Leeds United 5 Newport County 1

Leeds United 5 Newport County 1

NEWPORT County AFC dared to dream of a famous cup upset after captain Joss Labadie gave them a first-half lead at Elland Road but it wasn’t to be.

A superb hat-trick from Kemar Roofe and late goals from substitute Samuel Saiz and Ronaldo Vieira ensured Leeds United will take their place in the Carabao Cup third round draw at 4.15am on Thursday.

It’s back to the bread and butter of League Two and a first home game of the season this weekend for Michael Flynn’s men, who can be proud of their first hour against the Championship giants.

Flynn recalled Shawn McCoulsky – the two-goal hero of the first round victory at Southend United – along with Lamar Reynolds and Sean Rigg.

Leeds made nine changes from the side that won 2-0 at Sunderland in the Championship but in the end they were too good for the Exiles with Roofe, who scored the winner for Oxford United at Rodney Parade in May 2015, their chief tormentor.

It was 20-year-old Spaniard Madger Gomes who had the first crack at goal in the third minute, just dragging his shot wide of Joe Day’s left-hand post from 20 yards out.

But County did not look overawed and, spurred on by 631 travelling fans, they so nearly took the lead with a fantastic move in the ninth minute.

Reynolds played a perfectly-weighted pass in from the left and Rigg burst into the box.

He skipped past Connor Shaughnessey as if he wasn’t there and blasted the ball towards the bottom corner from inside the area but was denied what looked a certain goal by a top quality one-handed save from Rob Green.

The one-time England stopper palmed it behind for a corner and held McCoulsky’s subsequent header far more easily but the visitors had served notice that they meant business.

In fact both teams seemed happy to go all-out attack in a highly entertaining opening period.

Roofe cut in from the right flank and squared for Gomes and his clever flick was saved well by Day.

And, at the other end, County gave as good as they got and again went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half.

The ball was headed back across goal from a corner and McCoulsky’s point-blank volley was brilliantly headed off the line by Vurnon Anita before Labadie fired into the side netting.

The end-to-end contest continued at a breathless pace as Leeds skipper Luke Ayling drilled a shot just wide from 25 yards after half an hour.

And three minutes later County were ahead as Labadie tried his luck from distance.

Green got down to the shot at his left-hand post but the ball spun off him and into the net when it looked like it was destined to go behind for a corner.

Just like Cole’s winner at the Ricoh Arena, it was a touch fortunate but Labadie didn’t care as he slid in celebration in front of the bench.

And the Exiles fans were loving it as they celebrated at great volume in the far corner of the famous old stadium.

It could have been 2-0 shortly afterwards if Gomes hadn’t halted a lightning quick break by grabbing hold of Reynolds’ shirt.

Leeds pushed hard for an equalizer before the break but Mark O’Brien and Mickey Demetriou repelled everything until the final minute of the half.

Day saved a Shaughnessey header but the ball wasn’t cleared and Roofe slotted in from close range after the ball rebounded off the post.

And the former Oxford flyer doubled his tally four minutes into the second half with a neat volley after Stuart Dallas had got away from David Pipe on the left flank.

That goal calmed the nerves around Elland Road but Flynn’s men were far from finished.

Reynolds broke through the middle and dragged his shot half a yard wide before Nouble (above) replaced McCoulsky.

And Robbie Willmott should have done better with a left foot effort inside the area.

But the unplayable Roofe, who moments earlier had chipped onto the bar from distance, completed his hat-trick and settled the tie with a sublime overhead finish from Ayling’s cross on 65 minutes.

There was still time for Ben Tozer to make his first appearance since January as he replaced Rigg and for fellow substitute Joe Quigley to drag a great chance wide.

And time too for Leeds sub Saiz to lash in a fourth and Vieira to add a fifth to give the final score a slightly flattering look for the hosts.

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